Save the day: James Taylor rescued Notts with his marathon inningsPhoto: Getty Images

By Arindam Rej, Trent Bridge

8:26PM BST 25 Jun 2013

James Taylor hopes he is proving a point to doubters after scoring his first double-century for Nottinghamshire and showing the sort of grit that will give a nudge to the England selectors who have omitted him since his Test debut last summer.

The England Lions captain scored heavily for Leicestershire in the second division of the County Championship but his average dipped last year in division one at Nottinghamshire. Taylor showed his mettle here by ensuring a comfortable draw for his side, who had been in danger of the follow-on and possible defeat late on day three against unbeaten Sussex. They finished on 478 for eight in reply to Sussex’s 506 for six declared.

Taylor hit back at doubts over his ability to punish division one attacks, saying: “Look at my one-day record. I’ve scored plenty of runs against first-division sides – and for the Lions. Now I’m hopefully starting to show people that I can do it in the championship as well.”

Should there be an England batting injury or loss of form, then Taylor could be next man in for the Ashes. “I like that added expectation and pressure on my shoulders,” the 23-year-old said. “I thrive on that.

“It was nice to get that little taste in the England side. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do what I should have done; which is score more runs. But hopefully it’ll come again.